My Madcap Adventures in the Big City, plus Riffs on Pop Culture

Jan 02, 2006

Roll Models

I used to LOVE roller derby when I was a kid. My team was the Tri-City Bucks (Detroit-Cleveland-Toledo) and my favorite skater was the oh-so-70s long-haired beauty Peggy Fowler. Roller derby is the only team sport I can think of that is co-ed, or at least it was in those days, even though the men and women competed in separate periods during a game. It was a lot like wrestling but somehow more athletic, or at least more fast-paced. The female skaters ranked right up there with Emma Peel and Honey West as tough chicks that could take care of themselves which as a 12-year-old I found quite inspiring.

Anyway, tonight A&E is premiering a new reality show called RollerGirlsabout the all-girl roller derby circuit in Texas which is from the same production team that created MTV's Laguna Beach. Some of the reviews have been great, others not so, but I want to judge for myself. Starts at 10:00 p.m. ET.